Fuel oil supply systems

ABSTRACT

A fuel oil supply system comprising a fuel oil tank mounted on legs or other supporting means elevated sufficiently to provide a gravity flow of fuel to an oil burner, the tank having a threaded outlet at the bottom portion thereof, an outlet valve comprising a Y-shaped body portion having an externally threaded main body portion serving as an inlet and two angularly disposed leg portions, one serving as an outlet for the fuel and the other as a housing for a valve stem. In the inlet of the fuel valve a short nipple is inserted so that when the modified valve unit is screwed into the outlet of the fuel tank, a sump is formed in which any water and other foreign matter present in the fuel will be collected. Oil for the burner is withdrawn several inches above the bottom portion of the tank, is relatively free of condensed moisture and other foreign matter, so that a continuous flow of oil to the burner is assured even at temperatures below freezing.

United States Patent Wine Apr. 25, 1972 [54] FUEL OIL SUPPLY SYSTEMS 2,975,983 3/1961 Niepling..... ..137/608 x Inventor: Edward E. wine, 8897 Gram Avenue 3,145,733 8/1964 Shaw et al ..l37/6l2.l X

Manassas 22110 Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott [22] Filed: May 25, 1970 Attorney-John H. Merchant [21] Appl. No.: 39,998 [57] ABSTRACT A fuel oil supply system comprising a fuel oil tank mounted on [52] [1.8. Cl ..l37/590 legs or other sup Om means elevated sufficieml to rovide 51 l t Cl Fl6t 1/00 P g Y P l l 137 590 590 5 6' 612 a gravity flow of fuel to an oil burner, the tank having a [58] new 0 l 1 threaded outlet at the bottom portion thereof, an outlet valve comprising a Y-shaped body portion having an externally threaded main body portion serving as an inlet and two angu- [56] References Cited larly disposed leg portions, one serving as an outlet for the fuel UNITED STATES PATENTS and the other as a housing for a valve stem. In the inlet oi the fuel valve a short nipple IS inserted so that when the modified Kuhn l X valve unit is screwed into the ouflet of he fuel tank a ump is 2,973,010 2/|961 Y 1 37/608 X formed in which any water and other foreign matter present in 1,063,754 /l Wei-5S 37/524 X 'the fuel will be collected. Oil for the burner is withdrawn 1,418,482 1922 y--- "137/590 several inches above the bottom portion of the tank, is relal,543,400 l 925 waufer 137/524 x tively free of condensed moisture and other foreign matter, so 1,684,475 9/1928 Collier et l37/590 X that a continuous flow of oil to the burner is assured even at 1 MCll'ltOSlLm l 8 temperatures below freezing 2,762,387 9/1956 Oruun ..l37/608 X 2,795,269 6/1957 Witte l37/590.5 X 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FATENTED PR2 I972 33, 658,089

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f I l2 INVENTOR EDWARD E. WINE ATTORNEY FUEL on. SUPPLY SYSTEMS My invention relates to an improvement in fuel supply systems and is particularly useful and effective in connection with systems supplying fuel to oil burners or similar heating devices.

In systems of this type, particularly those used in domestic and certain commercial installations, the fuel tanks are frequently located on the outside of the building housing the fuel burner or heating device. The tanks are usually mounted on legs or other supporting means elevated sufficiently to provide a gravity flow of fuel to the burner.

My improvement, however, is not limited to gravity flow systems but may also be used in systems in which the fuel is supplied to the burner under pressure. In either type of system, in accordance with my invention, the fuel outlet is located at the bottom of the fuel tank, and preferably at the lowest point thereof.

In such installations the fuel tanks are exposed to the weather and subjected to wide variations in tempature. Under these circumstances it is inevitable that moisture present in the atmosphere will condense to a certain extent within the tank and the resulting moisture will settle to the bottom of the tank adjacent the fuel outlet. Other foreign matter and debris which are present to a certain degree in the fuel will collect in the same area.

In cold weather when the outside temperature drops below freezing, the moisture which has collected at the bottom of the tank adjacent the fuel outlet freezes and interrupts the normal flow of oil to the burner. Thus the burner fails to function at the time it is most needed and a call to the agency servicing the burner is necessary to restore operation of the system. Moreover, the orifice in the oil burner is relatively minute and even small amounts of solid impurities present in the fuel have a tendency to clog the same and impair its efficiency. Such impurities, even atnormal operating temperatures, may shut down the system completely and the services of a mechanic are needed to remedy the difficulty.

Outlet valves customarily used in installations of the type described comprise a Y-shaped casing having an externally threaded main body portion serving as an inlet and having two angularly disposed leg portions, one serving as an outlet and the other as a housing for a valve stem. The valve is threaded into the outlet disposed in the bottom of the fuel tank and the threaded outlet connected by a conventional coupling to the fuel line supplying the oil burner.

l have found that practically all of the difficulties experienced due to the formation of ice and accumulation of foreign matter in the fuel outlet in installations of the type described may be eliminated by inserting in the inlet of the fuel valve a short nipple, usually about 3 to 4 inches in length. The nipple may be secured by solder, threaded into the valve or it may be so dimensioned as to provide a friction fit. When the valve, modified as described, is inserted into the threaded outlet in the bottom of the fuel tank, a sump is formed in which moisture and other foreign matter will be collected. Thus, freezing of moisture will not adversely affect the operation of the burner.

The oil supply for the burner is withdrawn at a point several inches above the bottom of the fuel tank and is relatively free of moisture and other foreign matter which may be present in the oil. A constant supply of relatively clean oil substantially free of moisture and other impurities is supplied to the burner and continuous operation is assured even in the coldest weather.

Periodic inspection of the system may be limited to once every year or so depending upon the extent to which the burner is used. At the time of these infrequent inspections, the oil supply line to the burner is uncoupled from the valve and the valve removed from the fuel tank. A quart or so, depending upon the degree of contamination of the oil, including accumulated moisture and solid foreign matter, is permitted to drain from the tank. After the oil runs clean, the valve is reinserted in the threaded outlet in the fuel tank and the fuel line recoupled to the valve outlet. This is a relatively simple operation and can be perfonned during the summer months when the burner is not in use without the necessity of draining the tank.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of a typical fuel oil supply system in which my invention may be incorporated, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the bottom portion of a fuel tank having inserted in the outlet at the bottom thereof, my improved valve structure, and

FIG. 3 is aside elevation, partly in section, showing the modified outlet valve with a nipple secured in the inlet portion thereof with solder, and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, also partly in section, showing the modified outlet valve in which the nipple is threaded into the inlet portion of the said valve.

Similar numerals refer to similar drawings.

FIG. 1 of the drawing illustrates a typical fuel oil supply installation incorporating my improved valve device, and including a fuel oil tank 1, supported by legs, indicated generally at 2, to provide a gravity flow through my improved valve device 3 which is connected to a fuel supply line 4 to an oil burner or other heating device (not shown).

In FIG. 2 of the drawing, my improved valve is shown applied to a fuel tank 1 having in the bottom portion thereof a threaded outlet 5. Threadedly inserted in said outlet 5 is my improved modified valve, indicated generally by the numeral 3, and comprising a main body portion 6 having a central inlet bore 7, and having two angularly disposed leg portions 8 and 9, serving as a housing for a valve stem and as a fuel outlet, respectively. Leg portion 8 of the valve casing is internally threaded to receive a threaded valve stem 10, the latter being secured to the leg portion 8 by means of a conventional threaded cap 11, a handle 12 being attached to the valve stem to permit ready adjustment of the valve.

Depending leg portion 9 of the valve casing 6 is provided with external threads to receive a threaded coupling 13 to attach the fuel line 4 to the valve outlet.

Inserted in the central bore 7 of the inlet of the valve casing is a shortnipple 14,.preferably of copper or other non-ferrous metal, the details of which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The length of the nipple may be varied depending upon the particular installation but a length of 3 to 4 inches will usually be found to be satisfactory.

The nipple may be secured to the inlet of the valve casing by solder, as shown in FIG. 3, the solder being indicated by the numeral 15, or the nipple may be so dimensioned as to provide a friction fit within the central bore of the valve casing.

In the modification shown in FIG. 4, the inlet of the valve casing is provided with internal threads 16, into which a correpondingly threaded nipple is threaded.

In operation, it will be noted that when my improved valve structure unit is inserted in the outlet of the fuel oil tank at the bottom portion thereof, a sump is formed in which any moisture and solid impurities present in the oil will settle. Since the fuel is withdrawn from the tank at a point several inches above the bottom of the tank'it will be relatively clean and substantially free of moisture and debris. Interruption to service during cold weather by formation of ice in the outlet of the fuel tank is eliminated and fouling of the burner orifice is minimized.

When the system is periodically inspected, coupling 13 is removed to disconnect the fuel line and the improved valve unit readily removed with an appropiate wrench. A quart or so of the contaminated oil and water mixture is permitted to drain from the tank, the, valve unit reinserted and the valve outlet recoupled to the fuel line. The loss in fuel is negligible, servicing of the system is simplified and continuous operation during the heating season is assured.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles parts throughout the of my invention and that the structural elements are susceptible to such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fuel supply system,

a tank,

a valve having a single inlet and comprising a Y-shaped casing having an externally threaded main body portion serving as the inlet and having two angularly disposed leg portions, one serving as an outlet and the other as a housing for a valve stem,

a nipple removably secured in and extending above the valve casing and adapted, when the valve is inserted into the threaded outlet in the bottom of the tank, to form a sump for the collection of water and other foreign matter present in the fuel, the valve, upon disconnecting the fuel line, being readily removable from the tank to permit draining that portion of the fuel containing water and other foreign matter from the tank.

2. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the nipple is threaded into the valve casing.

3. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the nipple is secured in the valve casing by solder.

4. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the nipple is frictionally secured in the valve casing.

5. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the valve casing has a central outlet bore, a valve seat disposed in the lower portion thereof, two angularly disposed externally threaded leg portions, one serving as an outlet, the other being internally threaded to receive a threaded valve stem rotatively mounted therein and adapted to engage the valve seat, and a threaded cap member to secure the valve stem in operative position. 

1. In a fuel supply system, a tank, a valve having a single inlet and comprising a Y-shaped casing having an externally threaded main body portion serving as the inlet and having two angularly disposed leg portions, one serving as an outlet and the other as a housing for a valve stem, a nipple removably secured in and extending above the valve casing and adapted, when the valve is inserted into the threaded outlet in the bottom of the tank, to form a sump for the collection of water and other foreign matter present in the fuel, the valve, upon disconnecting the fuel line, being readily removable from the tank to permit draining that portion of the fuel containing water and other foreign matter from the tank.
 2. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the nipple is threaded into the valve casing.
 3. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the nipple is secured in the valve casing by solder.
 4. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the nipple is frictionally secured in the valve casing.
 5. A system of the type defined in claim 1 in which the valve casing has a central outlet bore, a valve seat disposed in the lower portion thereof, two angularly disposed externally threaded leg portions, one serving as an outlet, the other being internally threaded to receive a threaded valve stem rotatively mounted therein and adapted to engage the valve seat, and a threaded cap member to secure the valve stem in operative position. 